Variant Chess Newsletter 07.pdf

7/28/2019 Variant Chess Newsletter 07.pdf

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Variant ChessIn this issue: Alice Chess, Bouncing Back, 3rd UK Progressive

Chess,

Frankfurter Chess, 4 pages of Original Problems, Nightrider Tourney Award,Ifuight's Tour News, Solutions to VC6, Correspondence, Chinese Chess in Print,Puzz\e Page. Subscription 1991.-2: f5 ($10); 1990 issues: f3.75 ($7.50).

July 1991 March L992

AliCe ChgSS by George JellissProbably the best of the many chess variantinventions of V. R. Parton, Alice Chess firstappeared in Fairy Chess Review under the editorshipof Dennison Nixon in June 1954. The idea is simplebut its consequences on the play of the game arequite profound. The only extra equipment requiredis a second board, initially empty. The openingposition is diagrammed. [Having tun out of whitepawn symbols I am experimenting with stencilled"blobs" for the pawns in this issue.]

"Twin Portland" boards (made of card-board with

slot-in pieces) are useful for recording postal Alicegames, I got some from the B.C.M. some years agobut unfortunately they do not seem to bemanufactured any more.

All the moves on both boards are normal exceptthat after completion of any move the moved piecemust be transferred to the square with the samecoordinates on the other board. Furthermore thissquare must be vacant; if it is occupied then themove may not be made. Kings may not movethrough check.

The original statement of the rules also specifiedthat the final mate must be of "Alice" type in whichthe K has apparent flights from check, which

VARIANT CHESS 7 page 81

@ Copyright. 1992.Publisher and EditorG. P. Jelliss99 Bohemia RoadSt Leonards on SeaTN37 6RJ (U.K.)Games ConsultantMalcolm Horne10B Windsor SquareExmouth EX8 lJU

Editor's Note: Apologies to subscribers for the long delay in producing this issue, and to correspondents to whom I havenot been able to write. The break in communications has been caused by a combination of health and financial reasons.I am now hopeful that it may be possible to continue; a firm decision will be announced in the next issue.

however lead to check on the other board. Also thereis no statement in the original article about theinterpretation of en passant capture. I wrote toMr. Nixon, who is still active in variant chess as asolver, for his views on the "correct" rules but hereplied: "In all fairy chess activities, problem orplay, where "rulings" prove necessety, I think it isup to the participants to make the necessarydecisions, even to the extent of altering the officialrules, so long as it is made clear what has beendone. With regard to the necessity for a genuine"Alice" mate, I quite agree that it has been almostcompletely ignored and agree that it should be.However,

inyour

amusing short example [1.e4d5

2.Bb5 h5 3.Ba4f, provided by Peter Wilsonl you saythis is normal mate, which it is not, Black havingseveral drop-ins, all ruled out by the Alice rules;thus a gsnuine Alice mate. On the e.p. question Ithink the capturer should only be allowed to captureon the square which has been moved over - in yourexample [WPbZ -b4 with BPa4 on either board] b3on board A, thus PAa4xb3 e.p." In the first twogames that follow we adopted this ruling (though thesituation never arose to apply it), but in subsequent

games, following the practice of NOST in mostvariants, it was agreed to cancel the e.p. law.

Notes by G.J.:1.g4 d6 2.B,92? Qxd2! 3.Qd3!? (if 3...Q*gZ 4.Qb5f Kd8 5Bg5t but 5...f6 and Black maybe able to escape) 3...Qxd3 4.c2xd3 96 5.Nc3 Bg76.895 h6 7.8f4 (this does not guard h2 but is aimedat c7) 7...B,d4 8.Bxc7 Na6 9.8a5 Bxb} 10.Rd1 Bh311.8d5 Nb4 IZ.Bxb4 Bxc3f L3.B,dZ (!) Bxd214.Rxd2 Rb8 15.f4 b5 16.Nf3 b4 17.8b3 Bxg418.Kf2 Be6 19.Ba4t Kf8 (although the BK has open

air all round he actually has only one move!) 20.Ret95 2r.h4 94 22.Ne5 Rh2f 23.Ke3 93 24.Rgr(attacking g7 rather than 93) PgT? 25.Ng6$ (t-0).


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Notes by P.'W.: 1.b3 Nf6 2.a3 Nc6 3.BbZ Ne4(Knights are stuck on squares of one colour perboard. Thus this N can never take or be taken by theNbl. Furthennore this N can never be attacked by apawn.) 4.Qc1 c5 5.g3 (5.Qc4 with a triple attack canbe met with ...Nd6 or perhaps even with the sacrifice...Nxd2) 5...h5 6.h4 Rb8 7.RhZ (Defends n, freesthe WQ, blocks ...Rhz, develops a piece butnevertheless feels defensive.) 7...Rb5 8.e3 Rd5 9.Qc4(This move can be answered by ...Nd6 to protect c8and t7 or by 9...Re5. An alternative was 9.Be5 butI felt this was too defensive. The text seems to putpressure on and may threaten to win a piece.)9...Re5 (While this R is here any capture would beillegal on e4, exposing the WK to check!)

%%%

10.8d4 (The second phase of the game has started,pieces returning to board A. I'm not sure who isbetter but Black lags in development especially ofthe Bishops.) 10...Qc7 (As expected. I've a numberof problems and have to look out for matingcombinations. AIso in many variations the BQcomes to e5 attacking my Ra1. So I am committedto my own attack.) t1.Ra4 (Which allows thedefence lt...Nxf2f 12.Bxe5 Qxe5t L3.e4 I think(and hope!) while opening-up moves like Ra8 forthe future) 11...R98 (Probably aimed at protecting

the back rank. Despite leaving the Bishops at homeBlack has play. Infuriating! My pet theory of leavingNs at home is being flaunted!) LZ.BxeS (With Q&Rlined up on 93 a White Nxf2t was a serious threat.My defence rests upon Black playing QxB (notNxB) with Re2 as the linch-pin.) Lz*.Qxe5 13.Re2a6 14.Rd4 (A blocking move aimed at preventing...Qal and ...Nd4 in one go while applying morepressure to the Ne4. Perhaps White's main threat isnow to play Qxf7, attacking rook and dislodging BKwith check next move.) L4...f6 15.Qd3 (A very sharp

move, threats of Qg6t and the devastating Rxe4 (notambiguous because Rexe4 is illegal) with adiscovered attack on the O now that the WRe2 is

protected.) 15...Nxf2? (A mistake. Even though thegame is unpredictable I've got to try this:) 16.Qg6tKd8 17.Rxe5 f6xe5 (Note the strange imbalance offorces on each board. Perhaps I can force exchangeof rooks by a mate threat.) 18.Qf7 e5xd4 tg.Qxg8Ne4 20. Qxf8t Kc7 ZI.Qf.4l Black resigns (1-0).

t.g4 d5 2.BgZ Qxd2! 3.Qd3 Q*92 4.Qb5f Kd85.Nf3 Qxhl 6.Ne5 Bd7 7.Qxb7 Qglt 8.Kd2 Qxh2t9.Kc3 Qh3t 10.Kb4 a5t 11.Kc5 e6f L2.Kd4 c5t(0-1) An efficient king-hunt.

VARIANT CHESS 7 July I99L March L992

1.Nf3 h6 2.Nc3 e6Qxd2$ (0-t) Very

3.d4 Bb4 4.Qxd7? Ba5t! 5.Nd2aesthetically pleasing! (S.T.)

@

ffi,%

1.Nf3 e6 2.RgL Qf6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Rg5 Qh4 5.d4 Bb66.e3 (if 6...Bxf2t 7.KeZ) 6...d5 7.Rh5 (a step backto leap forward) h6? 8.Re5t Kf8 9.Qd8f (1-0)

L.e4 b5 2.Qf3 Bb7 3.Qf4 Nh6 4.8e2 Ba6 5.a4 b5xa46.Qxa4 Qc8 7.Rxa6 Qxa6 8.Bb5 (S.T.: I seem tohave got my Bishop on the wrong board last move!)Qb7 9.Qd4 Rg8 tO.Qx d7t (discovered check fromthe Bb5) QxdT 11.BxQd7 c6 L2.d3 e5 (game brokenoff viii 91), advantage to Black.

Lg4 Nf6 2.95 e6 3.h4 Bc5 4.Nf3 Bd4 5.Rh2 d6 6.a4Ng4 7.Rxa7? (although this places the R on a clearrank on board B, in fact it can only go to d7, or e7where it would be captured, this move also opensthe a-file for the Black rook aB.) Nc6! 8.e3 Bf59.Bh3 Bxh3 lO.Qxga Qd5 11.Re2t e5 l2.Qg3 Ral!(threat Rflt) 13.Ra8t Ke7 14.d3 Rh8xa8 15.96(clearing 95 for checks) Ra1-f1t 16.Kd2 Rxf2t17.Kd1 Qxf3 1B.Qx g7t Kd8 19.Qf8t (expectingKd7 agTt) Re8! 20.Qa3 (else }}...Rftf Ll.KdzQ/Bc3$) Qxe2 2L. White resigns (0-1)

1.d3 Nf6 2.e3 b5 3.895 Bb7 4.Qd4 Qc8 5.Nc3 Bc66.e4 Na6 7.Nf3 h6 8.Bxf6 g7xf6 9.Rg1 Qc5 10.Ne5Rc8 11.Rc1 d5 LZ.BeZ Rh7 13.Rg8 h5 (threat Rhlt)I4.h3 Qa3 15.RdL Qb4f 16.Kft Qxb2 17.Nxc6Qxc3 18.Kg1 QxcZ 19.Qxd5 Qxe? 20.Qd4! Nc5?(20...Rd8 seems the only move to stop both Q matesat d7 and d8) 21.Qd8t (1-0).

Paul wrote that Alice Chess used to be playedregularly by the Knights of the Square Table(I{OST) but has not been in vogue there recently.These games are the first I, Peter Wilson or StephenTavener have played and are intended to show whatthe game is like, not as examples of expert play!

%,/rfr

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Bouncing Backby Paul NOVAK

To recap the rules for newreaders: In Bouncy Chess (VC3page 25) the queens, kings andbishops can bounce off vacantedge squares at 90", knights atany angle, pawns and rooks not atall. You can't escape zug r\tang byrebounding to your originalposition! Is this a playable CV ordoes the ability of the pieces tobounce mean they are too likelYto be swapped off? These games(played without a clock) maycontribute towards that question.

Bexhill 1990l.e4 b6 2.d3 e5 3.8e2 Nc6 4.c3h5 !? 5.Bxh5? Rxh5 (I estimatethe piece values as Q=9,R=N=B=4, P=l but here Black'sbishop on d3 is plainly muchbetter than the Rhl) 6.Qxh5 Bxd37.Ng5

Qe7(White's seventh does

not threaten mate as the Ng8guards t7 bouncing off h6, butBlack does not want to allowNxf8. 7...I{f6 does not look goodafter 8.Qf3, 7...Bx g2? 8.Rg1 isvery bad for Black, and 7...96??8.Qh8 loses on the spot.) 8.h4000 9.Rh3 BxgZ (not 9.Nc4??Nxc4 10.b3 Nc2f wins) 10.Rg396 (avoiding the trap 10...Nf6?

lt.Nxf6 gxf6 t2.Bxf8 QxfS13.Rxg2 Qxb2 I4.QeZt winninga piece) 11.Qd1 (or 11.Qh8Be6(!) 12.Nxf8 Rxf8 13.h5 Nf614.Bxf8 Nxf8 15.h6 Qxb2 I6.h7Kb7! wins, or 15.Kd2 Nc4f =l+or t:.Qxg8 Rxg8 l4.Bxe7 NxeT=l+) tr 1...8xg5 12.Bxg5 Qe6(simplifying to a won ending)13.Nd2 Nc4 14.Rxg2 Q*gZ (ift4.Nf3 Bd3 !) 15.Nxc4 Qxc4l6.QeZ Qxe2f 17.Kx eZ f6 18.8d2Nf7 19.f3 d5 20.exd5 Rxd5(20.a4 looked a better chance)

VARIANT CHESS 7

21.Rh1 Nf5 22.Rgl Rxd2t!Z3.KxdZ Nxh4 24.Ke3 Kd725.Rd1t Kc6 26.Rd8 f5 27.Re8Ng2t 28.KfZ Nd3t 29.Kg3 Nf4f

Bexhill 1990I.e4 b6 2.c4?! (I was trying toimprove on the "book" 2.d3)2...e5 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nc3 Nd4 5.Nf3Nxf3t 6.Qxf3 Qf6 (equalizingeffortlessly) 7.Qb3 c6 8.8e3 Bd69.000 Ng4! 10.8e2 h5 (we bothmissed that Black can, andshould, take the f-pawn:10...Nxf2! now not 11.Rdf1?Nxc3 ! for if t2.Qx c3?? Qxc312.Rxf6 Bxb2t 13.Qxb2 Nxb214.Rxf7 Nxe3 15.Rxd7f h5 winsbut not L4...g6?? L5.Rxh7! RxhT16.Bxg6t wins. Best is 11.Bxf2Qxf2 12.Rdf1 Qg5t and nott2...Qxg2? 13.Rxf7! Qxhl??14.Rf1t - 13.Kb1 96! 14.c5 bxc5now not t5.Rxf7?? c4!15.Qxf7t Kd8 I6.h4 Qe7 =l+)11.Bd2! (preserving the bishopandthreatening 12.f3! I{fz 13.Rhf1winning a piece) 96! 12.Kb1Nxf2 13.Be1 Bg5 14.Rf1 Qe715.93 Ng4 16.c5? (I should havetaken the Ng4 first as 16...Ne3!gives Black the better position. Iwas hoping for 16...bxc5?L7.Bxg4 hxg4 18.Nd5 and not18.Nxc5? a5! 18...Qe6 19.Rf6!Bxf6 20.Nxf6t Qxf6 2L.Bxf6wins) 16...00(?) L7.Bxg4 hxg4

18.cxb6

Black to play

(I was hoping for 18...Rb8 not18...axb6? 19.Nxb6 wins material

page 83

19.Nd5 Qe8 20.b7 RxbT ZI.BxgSRxb3?? 22.Nf6f Kh8 23.897{,but Black has far better moves athis disposal, e.g. 19...cxd5 20.b7

not Zo.bxa7? Rxb3 21.a8=QRxb2f 22.KaI Bc3 wins20...Rxb7 ZL.Bxe7 Rxb3 22.Bxg5Rxd3!) 18...Qe6?? 19.Nd5?? (weboth overlooked L9.b7 Qxb320.bxc8=Q ! - and not 20.bxa8=Q?? Qxdlf ! 21.Nxd1 Bxd3t22.KaL RxaS wins [Penin] -20...Qxd1f 2L.Nxd1 RxcS22.Bxg5 wins) 19...axb6 20.Bxb6Bxb6 21.Nxb6 Qxb3 22.axb3Rb8 23.Nxc8 Rbxc8 24.d4 and asthe "bounce" has gone out of theposition, we agreed a draw.

NRB World Championship L985Candidates L984, Hastings

White to play, move L7.

This game began as "KnightriderBouncy Chess" but by this stagehas become "bouncy chess" as theknightriders have been swappedoff - and when bouncy gets down

to a rook andpawn ending it's

virtually chess, rather like the waya radioactive isotope decays to amore stable element. t7.Ret !! (Amysterious rook move to puzzlel,asker himself!) 17 "..Rc8 18.8f4Bd4 (18...b5 was an idea) 19.8g3Qf8?? (He had to play 19...Qd7now White springs his trap canyou find what he played? Answerinverted below).

Answerisalsr'rI +Vq'Iz, goxg"'}Z, II tEr'02


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page 84

1rd UK Progressive(Scottish) ChessPostal Tournament

(Notes by G.P.J.)

This began in April 1991. Therewere six participants: MirkoBabic (Yugoslavia), George Jelliss(UK),AIdo Kustrin (Italy), MarioIroncini (Italy), Vito Rallo(Italy), Stephen Tavener (UK).

A seventh entrant, VladimirTrusov (Russia), was introducedat a later date but postalcommunication with Russia hasbeen extremely slow and severalplayers claimed wins by default.My own games with him are stillin progress. It seems best toeliminate the Trusov games fromthe event, at least for now.

Mario Ironcini, the ItalianProgressive Chess Champion in1977, 78, 79,81, 86, 90, and 9r,floored all opposition to win withan unbeaten score of 10/10. Hisprogressive score overall in theItalian championships is 27 41324(+27I, =6, -55), so an'one wholost to him is in good company!

Table of ResultsFirst column is player of WhiteO is win by White O by Black

BJ K

ooooooooooooooo0 22

LR

ooooooo

ooo54

TO

o1o3o3oso4

1

0

The following are the movesof all the games reported to me.

(We have not yet received themoves of the games of Kustrinwith Babii and Tavener.)

VARIANIT CHESS 7

I.e4 2.e6 Ne7 3.8a6 BxbT BxaS4.Nds Bc5 Qf6 Qxf2f (0-1)

L.e4 2.Nc6 d5 3.Qga Qxc8Qxd8f 4.Kxd8 dxe4 Nf6 h5 5.d4t3 fxe4 e5 exf6 6.Nxd4 Kd7 a5a4 Re8 exf6t 7.KfZ Na3 Bh6 Rel"Rxe8 Rxf8 Rxh8 8.b5 b4 b3 bxcZc1=Q f5 f4 Qe3t


L.e4 2.e6 Ne7 3.Bb5 KeZ Nf34.a6 axb5 Na6 h5 5.Ng5 Ke1 Qf3Qf6 QxfTt (1-0)

L.e4 2.Nc6 d5 3.Qga QxcSQxd8f 4.Kxd8 dxe4 h5 Nf6 5.d3dxe4 e5 exf6 Nd2 6.gxf6 Kd7 h4h3 hxgZ gxhl-O 7.892 BxhlNb3 Bg5 Bxf6 Bxh8 Ne2 8.Nd4Nxe2 Nd4 Bh6 Rg8 Rglf (0-1)

L.e4 2.Nc6 d5 3.Qga Qxc8QxdSf 4.Kxd8 dxe4 Nf6 h55.Ba6 BxbT Bxa8 h4 Bxc6 6.Nd5Nc3 Rh6 Rd6 Rxd2 Rdlf (0-1)

1.d4 2.Nc6 Nf6 3.e4 Bg5 Nf34.d5 Bg4 Bxf3 Bxdl 5.8e2 Bh5e5 e6 Bxnt (1-0)

1.d4 2.t6 d6 (preventing captureof 0) 3.8h6 BxgT Bxh8 4.Nh6Bf5 BxcZ Bxdl 5.897 Bxf8 BxeTBxd8 Kxdl 6.a5 a4 a3 axb?bxal-O Qxblf 7.KdZ e3 Ba6BxbT BxaS Nf3 Rxbl 8.Kf7 Nc6NxdS Nc6 Nb4 Nxa2 Nc3 Nxblf9.Kd3 Ndz Nxbl e4 g5 gxh6 Be4Bf5 Kc3 10.c5 Ke7 Kd8 Kc7 Kc6Kd5 cxd4f 11.Kd3 exd4 Bd7 cat(1-0)

1.d4 2.Nc6 d5 3.8f4 BxcT Bxd84.Kxd8 e5 e4 Bb4f 5.Qd2 Qxb4QxbT QxaS KdZ 6.Kd7 Bb7 Bxa8NgeT a5 Rd8 7.Nc3 Nxd5 NxeT

Nxc6 NxdS a3 NxfT 8.h5 h4h3

hxg} gxhl-O Qxgl Qxfl Qxal9.b4-5 -6-7-8=Q d5 Qd8+ (1-0).

1.d4 2.c5 cxd4 3.e4 e5 Na3 4.d6dxe5 Bg4 Kd7 5.Bd2 Ba5 BxdSBeZ Bxg4t 6.e6 e4 e3 e2 exdl=BBxg4 7.Nf3 Nxd4 Nxe6 f3 fxg4Bh4 NxfSf 8.Black resigns. (1-0)

1.d4 2.d5 Nc6 3.8f4 BxcT BxdS

4.Kxd8 Bf5 BxcZ Bxdl 5.e4exd5 dxc6 cxbT bxaS=Qf 6.Kc7BeZ Bxfl BxgZ Bxa8 Nh6 7.t4 f5

L.e4 2.Nc6 d5 3.Qg4QxdSt 4.Kxd8 Nf6 h55.8d3 Bxe4 Bxc6 BxbT6.Ne4 Nc3 Rh6 Rd6 Rxd2(0-1)

QxcSdxe4Bxa8Rdl$

l.e4 2.d5 e5 3.Qga QxcS Qxd8t4.Kxd8 Nc6 Nb4 Nxc2t 5.Kd1Kxc} e4xd5 f4 fxe5 6.Kd7 c5 c4c3 cxb} bxcl=Qt 7.Kxc1 a4 a5a6 axbT bxa8-0 RaTf (1,0)

1.e3 2.d5 f6 3.8d3 BxhT Bg6t4.Kd7 Rxh2 Rxhl R.xglf 5.Ke2Kd3 Kd4 Qhs Qxd5f (t-0)

1.e3 2.e5 f5 3.Qga Qe5 Qxd8f4.Kf7 Bc5 Nf6 RxdS 5.b4 bxc5t3 KfZ Bc4t 6.d5 c6 e4 exf3 fxgZgxhl-O 7.Nf3 Nc3 BbZ RxhlBb3 d4 Ne5t 8.Kf8 Re8 Rxe5Rxe3 Re1 Rxhl a5 Rxh2t 9.Kg3Nxd5 Nc7 Bcl Bf4 Bd6f (1-0)

1.e3 2.Nc6 Nh6 3"Qf34.e5 e4 exf3 d5 5.Nxf3

Nxd8 Bb5f 6.c6 cxb5Rxc2 Rxcl{ (0-1)

Qxc6 Qf3Ng5 NxfT

Bg4 Rc8JKLRTo

1.e3 2.Nc6 d5 3.Qga QxcSQxd8t 4.Rxd8 e5 e4 Nf6 5.d4Bb5 g4 g5 gxf6 6.exd3 (e.p; mustbe made first move of series) a5a4 a3 axb? bxct=Qt (0-1)

1.e3 2.d5 e5 3.Qf3 Qxd5 QxdSt4.Kxd8 Ba3 Bxb2 Bxcl 5.Nc3

Rxcl f4 f5 Kf2 6.Nf6 b5 b4 bxc3cxd? dl=Nf 7.Ket Bc4 BxfT Ne2I.{d4 Rxdl Nc6g (1-0)


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1.d4 2.c5dxcZ e6Bg5 Nb5Rc1 RxcT

July 1991 March 1992

f6 fxgT gxh8=Q QxfS Qxh6 8.a5a4 a3 axbZ bxal-O Qxa? Qxh2Qxh6 9.Rxh6 RxhT RxfT Rxf8Rxa8 Ra6 Re6 d5 KdZ and Blackdoes not reply. (1-0)

VARIANT CHESS 7

Kc6 9.Nb5 NxcT Nxa8 Nb6 Nxc8KeZ t4 f5 NxaTf t0.Kd5 Ra1Rxa2 RxaT Ra3 Rb3 h4 Ne7Nxf5 Nxd4t 11. No reply. (0-1)

The following games withTrusov were completed:

1.d4 2.d5 Nh6 3.Bxh6 BxgTBxh8 4.8f5 BxcZ Bxdl Qd75.Nf3 Ne5 NxdT Nxf8 Kxdl6.Nd7 Nxf8 Ng6 NxhS Kd7 Rd87.Kc2 Kc3 Kb4 Kc5 Kxd5 e4Bb5f 8.c6t (if 8.Kc8t 9.Kc5 d5d6 dxeT Rd1 exdg=Ot) 9.Ke5Rel Re3 Rg3 Rg8 d5 d6 dxeTexdS=Q$ (1_0)

L.e4 2.d5 Nc6 3.Ba6 BxbT Bxc6t4.Qd7 Qxc6 Qxc2 Qxdlf 5.Kxd1KeZ exd5 Nc3 h4 6.8b7 Bxd5BxgZ Bxhl Kd7 h5 7.f4 f5 f6fxeT exf8=Q Q*97 Qxh8 8.a5 a4a3 axb? bxcl-O Rxa2 BgZQxd2f (0-1)

Frankfurter CfiessThis is a type of Protean Chess,in which capturers transform tothe type of pieces they capture.This was another of the variantsplayed by Erich Bartel in the 60s.When a King captures it retainsits "royal" properties. RP = royalPawn, RN = royal knight, etc.When a W piece captures a BP itbecomes a WP moving in theusual direction for WPs (there is

an alternative game where it altersto an "upside-down" WP, whichmoves like a BP!)

Game 23I, 15 viii L9641.e4 b6 2.8c4 Bb7 3.Bxf7(=P)tKxfT(= RP) 4.Nf3 Nf6?? 5.Ng5$

Game 229 24 vii L9641.e4 e5 Z.c3 Bc5 3.Qg4 Bxf2(=P)4.Kd1 fZxgl(=N) 5.Qxg7(=P) d6

6.g7xh8(=R) Bg4t 7.KcZ Nc68.h3 BeZ 9.Bxe2 Nxe2(=B) 10.d4exd4 11.cxd4 Nb4f L2.Kc3 c5

page 85

I3.a3 Qc7 14.d5 Qa5 15.Bd2Na2tf 16.Kb3 Qb5f 17.Kxa? (=RN) Qc4t 18.b3 Qc2f

Game 232 30 viii L964I.e4 Nc6 2.d4 Nb4 3.a3 Nxc2(=P)4.Qf3 Nh6 5.Bc4 e6 6.Nc3 Be77.Nh3 OO 8.Qg3 d5 9.exd exd10.8d3 Ng4 11.f3 Bh4 IZ.fxg4(=N) Bxg4(=I9 13.OO Nxh2(=P)t 14.Kxh2(=PP; h5 15.895Bxg5 16.Nxg5(=B) Qd6 L7.Bf4Rad8 18.Qh4 95 19.Qg3 h420.Qg4 f5 21.K(P)h3! Rfe8ZZ.RaeI ct=N 23.Bxf5(=P; Nd324.Rxe8f Rxe8 25.8e5! Qa626.Qhs s4t 27.K(P)*g4 Rf8??(Nxe5=S was needed) 28.Qe6tBlack resigns.

CorrespondenceRandomised Chess (VC6, p.66):I wrote to Brian Denman, whowas Secretary of the SouthernCounties Chess Association, toenquire about the Randomisedtournament held

inBrighton in

L976. He provided a report byJulian Simpole that appeared inthe Brighton and Hove Gazette,April 23, L976 (p.17), whichincludes one game. The winner ofthe tournament, Dave Spring Eay,also won the British HexagonalChess competition in the sameyear (a true variant enthusiast) butis not currently active in chess.

Keith Naylor (3 vi 1991): Givesdetails of variants mentioned inhis letter (VC6 p.78). Putback:captured pieces are replacedwherever the capturer wishes.Pole: Described in a novel byPiers Anthony; each player has anumber of "poles" which he canplace on the board at any time.Once placed they cannot bemoved or captured, so take asquare out of the game. Prechess:Start with empty back rank andplace pieces (Chess I ife xi 1978).

cxd4 3.e4 e5 Na3 4.d3cxdl=Qf 5.Kxd1 KcZNcTt 6.Q xcTt 7.Kd3Rxcs$ (1-0)

1.d4 2.d6 t6 3.8h64.a5 Bf5 Bxc? Bxdte3 Bc4 Bf7$ (1-0)

1.d4 2.d6 Nf6 3.8954.8f5 BxcZ Bxdl gxf6e3 Bc4 BxfT$ (1-0)

BxgT Bxh85.Nf3 Ne5

Bxf6 Nc35.Nf3 Ne5

t.e4 2.d5 Nc6 3.Qg4 QxcSQxdSf 4.Kxd8 dxe4 Nf6 h5(Ironcini's variation! M.L.) 5.d3dxe4 Bg5 Kd2 Nh3 6.Nh7 Nxg5Nxh3 Nxf2 Kd7 Nxe4f 7.Ke1BeZ Nc3 Nxe4 Ng5 NxfT Nxh88.e6 Ba3 Bxb2 Rf8 Ne7 Nf5 Ne3Bc3$ (0-1)

t.d4 2.d5 Nf6 3.e4 e5 Bbst4.8d7 Ne4 Bxb5 Kd7 5.a4 axb5b6 bxc7 cxd8=Qf 6.Kxd8 Nd7Nxf2 Nxdl e6 h5 7.Ra6 Rxe6Re7 e6 exfT Bf4 Re8$ (1-0)

t.e4 2.Nc6 Nf6 3.Bc4 Qh5 QxfTf(1-0).

l.e4 2.95 Nh6 3.d4 Bxg5 Nh34.e6 Q*95 Qcl Qxdlt 5.Kxd1 d5dxe6 e7 exf8=at 6.Rxf8 f5 fxe4Ke7 c6 Rf6 7.Nc3 Nxe4 Nxf6NxdT Nxb8 Bc4 Nxc6f 8.Kd6Nf7 Ne5 Nd3 Bd7 Rf8 Rxf2Be4$ (0-1)

1.e4 2.I.{c6 d5 3.Ba6 BxbT Bxc6f4.Qd7 Qxc6 Qxc2 Qxdlf 5.Kxd1exd5 d4 Bf4 Nf3 6.e5 e4 exf3

fxgZ F,e7 gxhl-O 7.KdZ Na3Rxhl Bh6 BxgT d6 dxeT 8.h5Rh7 RxgT Rg1 Rxhl KxeT Kd7


6/16

page 86 VARIANT CHESS 7 July 1991 March L992

The following two problems weremisprinted in VC6. Please correctand solve again for this issue:

55. M. OLAUSSONPawn 94 should be White.

87. G.SPHICAS & S.PANTAZISPawn c3 should be White.

98. Hilmar EBERT

Exact mate in 2

99. Nikita PLAKSIN

Minimal number of Rook moves?

100. Vladislav BUNKA

'%'ffi ffir %%z%x%, 'n:

ffio % '/2 '%ti"n %fr'4t

Original Problems to So/veJudge for 1991 -92 Kjell WIDLERT

T,eroposition. Helpmate in 2(a) add wQfz (b) add WRct(c) add WBg6 (d) add WNc8

102. Raimondas SENKUS

104. I-tszl6 ZORAN &Gyorgy BAKCSI

105. Ian SHANAHAN"To Peter Wong"

Serieshelpmate in 11

106. Alexander GEORGE& Jim MAULDON

(a) as given (b) rotate 1"80"Which is a sound

Serieshelpstalemate in 7?

[See the Note "On Irgality inSeriesplay Problems" belowby Alexander George]

Helpmate in 2 (2 ways)

103. Raimondas SENKUS

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Helpmate in 2(a) 2 ways (b) h2 +d7 1 way

(c) g4+a1 in (b) 1 way(d) a5*b4 in (c) 1 way

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Helpmate in 2 (4 ways)


7/16


L07. Raimondas SENKUS

Selfmate in 2

108. Michel OLAUSSON

Maxi-Selfmate in 8

Variant pieces: Lion and Iro bothcapture by hopping over one manto any distance beyond alongqueen lines, Lion also moves thisway, but Iro moves like a Queen.Grasshopper hops over one manto the next square beyond alongqueen lines. Berolina Pawn movesdiagonally takes directly forward.

109. Michal DRAGOUN

Helpmate in 2 (2 ways):} LroNs

VARIANT CHESS 7

Helpmate in 2 (2 ways)(b) d8-*d6

LroNs & GnassHoPPEn fr


ffi7/, 7i rfr 7E//'t ft,//, '%t '%, 'h:4r. '//U. '///z 7//t.4, % '%, '%,.%ry/r'%%%ry,%,%

Z.r.-roposition

Mate in 5GnassHoPPER s8, LroN h1

(a) c1 -aZ (b) h8 -h2l1^2. Michel OLAUSSON

page 87

113. Elmar & Erich BARTEL

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Some partial Kings appear in thefollowing problems: Fers t stepdiagonally, Soldier like Wazir (1

step orthogonlly) but not back-wards, Crane like King but notsideways.

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Rovar GNU (1,2)+(1,3) d1.Fnns f1. Helpmate in 3.(a) diagram (b) f1-+a3(c) f1+b7 (d) f1-'+f8.

Gnu is Knight + Camel.

ll4. Ian G. RICHARDSON"The Carnivores and the Crane"

'/./-/,/ '/,/tt ./,/,/^/"/.r////, .,,, 7//l

/2 %, %,'rhe CnaNE & SolprERs. Mate in 3

fl (a) LroNs (b) LEos

115. Ian G. RICHARDSON"The Vegetarians and the Crane"

Q CnnNs and Horses of two types(Maos and KNrcurs) H+ in 3

Mao is Knight that makes itsmove in two King steps, the first

a non-capturing Wazir move.

E

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in 2 (3 ways)PawN f7

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8/16

page 88

116. Peter WONG

BouNcER Faun vRovar BouNcER al

Helpstalemate in tl (2 ways)

Bouncers (VC3 p.31) move back-wards from another piece untilthey are twice as far away fromit, they also bounce back from theboard edge (us if from a piece ona cell just beyond the wall).

ll7. Paul BYWAY

%

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(1,1)+(2,0) Lnarnns(u) Black to play draws

White to play wins(b) l*4*g2 White wins

118. Paul BYWAY

(1,1)+(2,0) Lnars,nsShow that either to play draws

VARIANT CHESS 7

See Paul's note "On Semi-pieces"below. I dub (1,1)+(2,0) Duke,then the corresponding Rider (B +Dabbabarider) is the Duchess!

We now enter the realm ofvariant games: in Circe capturedpieces reappear on their homesquares, if vacant.


Maxi-Selfmate in 12Clncn cHEss

The composer comments: Themaxi-diagonal a8-h1 is very hardto block. How can white have anyblocking influence on black'squeens when his bishops are tiedto dark squares? Only by forcingthe black K to block!

120. FrantiSek SABOL

l2l.

Helpmate in 3CTnCn CHESS

Michel OLAUSSON

Seriesmate in 6A. CrncnB. CTnCe REX INCLUSIVE


122. Erich BARTEL

Helpmate in 3 (2 ways)GnaSSHOPPERS. CInCn

Neutral pieces (next problems)may be regarded as White orBlack by the player to move.


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A.Series check in 7

CInCn + NnUTRAL PAwNB. (a) NoRMAL cHEss

(b) h3-hZ Crncn cHnss

124, George P. SPHICAS

a5

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Seriesselfmate in L4CInCn CHESS

NnuTnaT PAwNS AND BISHOP

Now some other Circe varieties:in Chameleon Circe the captured

piece transforms beforereappearingo according to thesequence N--+B-+R"+Q*N.

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9/16

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CrnuELEoN CrncnHelpstalemate in 4 (b) bl+e4


In Hydra-promotion Circe whena pawn promotes a second piecelike the promotion piece appearson the appropriate home square.In "Rex Multiplex" pawns maypromote to Kings

127. Nikita PIAKSIN

HypnA-PROMOTION CInCnRBx MULTIPLEX

Add 17 figures to give astalemate position reached by

maximum long castling!

VARIANT CHESS 7

In Mutant Circe (a new idea fromValery Nebotov, 7 x 1991) thecaptured piece transforms to therank of the capturing piece beforebeing reborn (except for captureby King which is plain Circe) e.g:

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page 89

In Martian Circe a piece can onlycapture by first leaping to itshome square and then making thecapture from there.

130. Valery NEBOTOV

Helpstalemate in 5, Mans Clncn

131. Erich BARTEL

Selfmate in 2. Mannasl RI

Madrasi: like pieces of oppositecolour paralyse each other (RI:including Kings). Malefique:captured men go to enemy homes.

132. Erich BARTEL

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Seriesstalemate in 4

Cncn MarnFreuE + Mannasl

%,'%White: R:c5 (Q-*Rh8) R:a2(P+Ra8) R:d2 (R--+h8) Pf:e3(N-'+Pe7) K:hZ (P'+h7) K:gZ(N-+g8). Black: Kxd5 Q:d5(P'-+Qdt) Q:c2 (R+Qdl) Rxc2Rxd5 R:f2 (P+Ral) B:cZ(R"-+Bfl) B:d5 (P--+Bfl) N:c2(R+Nbl) N:d5 (P--+Nbl).

128. Valery NEBOTOV

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Mate in 2, MuraNr Crncn

129. Valery I.{EBOTOV

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Helpmate in 4 (2 ways)MAnTAN CInCE CTIESS

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10/16

%,,

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page 90

133. Valery NEBOTOV

VARIANT CHESS - 7

may move;(iii) White moves leading to a

helpmate in N-1".Serieshelnmate in 1:

Same as Helpmate in 1.Serieshelnmate in N:

(i) It is legal for Black tomove in the initial position;

(ii) Black moves leading to aserieshelpmate in N-1.

And analogously for Help-stalemate and Serieshelpstalemate.

Afew comments: According tothese rules, in a serieshelp-stalemate, neither player can makea move that would yield an illegalposition, and Black's last movemust yield a position from whichWhite may legally move to stale-mate. By contrast, all Black'smoves except his last must yielda legal position in which Blackmay move, and may yield a legalposition in which Black mustmove (e.g. because Black is incheck). These rules focus on thelegality of the position arrived at,and are blind to the legality of themove itself (except to ensure thatit is consistent with the powers ofthe pieces).

They lead to a distinctive kindof problem, we believe, and onenot investigated to our knowledge.

On Semi-PiecesPaul Byway (18 xii 9L) noted that

in its own private domain Bishopis like Rook, and the (1,1)+(2,0)piece used in his studies is like(non-royal) King. He termed it a"Semi-Sage". The relation ofpieces to "Semi-pieces" is:Wazir (1,0) Fers (1,1) +Dabbaba (2,0) -+ AJfil (2,2).Rook'-+ Bishop + Dabbabarider.King -. F+D. Queen -'+ B+DR.Knight (2,L) + Camel (3,1) -*(4,2) lnaper. In each case themove is rotated 45" and its lengthmultiplied by t/2.

July L991" - March L992

World Game ReviewMichael Keller's latest issue #L0(dated June 1991) of his WorldGame Review is a massive 102page survey of Chess Variants.($L0 from Michael Keller, 3367-I, North Chatham Road, Ellicottcity, MD 2t042 U.S.A.).

His index lists 677 namedvariants from Absolute ChecklessChess to Znmbie Chess, withcarefully researched details ofinventor, date and place of firstpublication, and a classificationcode which refers one to the maintext which is "A Panorama ofChess Variants" (pages 16-68).

This Panorama describes thevariants according to their rnaindistinctive rules, in a schemebased on the Taxonomy of Gamesthat appeared in earlier issues ofWGR. There are 25 sectionslettered Ca to Cy, most of whichare further divided into numberedsubsections.

The mainheadings

summarised are: a,b,c game affayvariants, d,e,f,g new pieces,h,ij,k,l,m new boards, n,o,p,q,r,snew movement rules, t,u,v,wcapture variants, x new objectives,y multiple players.

A list of inventors and theirinventions is given (pages 76-78).I am listed for Antipodean chess,Escalation and Upside-downchess, but must disclaim any handin Chameleon circe which is allMichel Olausson's work. Themost prolific inventors listed, areV. R. Parton (63) best known forAlice chess, and Ralph Betza (57)known for Avalanche chess. Butrnany of the games listed I woulddescribe as "subvariants". Themost influential inventions, whichhave led to endless offshoots,have undoubtedly been RobertAbbott's Ultima and PierreMonreal & J. P. Bover's Circe.

'%, %Zqfr, /,N, %

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Helpmate in 2(a) OnrHoDox cHnss

(b) Remove Rhl Parnol cHEss(c) f7--+h3 ANrI-CtncE cHnss(d) t7+g2 An-MArE cHESS

Patrol Chess: pieces can onlycapture or check if they areguarded. Anti-Circe: capture isonly permitted if the capturingpiece can reappear at its Circehome square (the captured piecevanishing). AII-mate Chess:pieces are captured only by beingmated as if they were the onlyroyal piece on the board.

On Legality in Seriesplayby Alexander George (Llxil9l)

The rules employed in ourproblem can be summarised asfollows (on even more generalformulation might be possible, butI state them so as to relate mostdirectly to the kind of problem wesent you):

Helfmate in |:(D It is legal for Black tomove in the initial position;

(ii) Black moves (in accordwith the power of the pieces astipulation assumed from now on)yielding a legal position in whichWhite may move;

(iii) W moves mating Black.Helfmate in N:

(i) It is legal for Black tomove in the initial position;(ii) Black moves yielding alegal position in which White

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11/16

July L991 - March L992

T.R.Dawson CentenaryNightrider Tourney Award

Nine entries were received for thistourney, first published on pages165, I7O, and 191 of The Gamesand Puzzles Journal.I was hopingto be able to repeat the diagtamsbut there is insufficient space.

The following are the solutionsto the problems, with some solveror composer comments, all $2.Nl. C. Poisson. Board 113x105.1.P(1,105)=NR and L3 mates byNRs. Interesting geometry!Waiting key provides for captureof NRs and for advance of BP onfile 94. Dual after advance of P62is a minor blemish. [A.W.L]N2. R. Bddoni. Board 11x16.1.Qf16 (threat 2.Qxf10 mate)g6lh5ld2la5-t8 2.Qa1.1.1c1.31kt1,lh1,4 mate. Superbly controlled"quadruple Grimshaw" [A.W.I.]N3. E. Holladay: 1.Rxf3? Ne6!1.Nxf3 NRxaT/NRc3A.{e64.[else2.Ne5/Nfe1A.{fd4/Qxd7 mate. Theline-pinned Black Nightridermakes two withdrawal unpins ofeach of two White men which pinthemselves on f3. In each phase,the unpin of this Nightrider on a7is thematically used to forceaccuracy (e.g. in the solution2.Ne5f closes line a7-g4). Thesolution has a third battery mate,this one by the f3 Knight movingalong its own pin line to d4where it can unpin the d7 Bishopthanks to the Goethart inter-ference 1"...Ne6. Fortunately theRg3 is used after the key. [E.H.]N4. M. Segers. 1".NRd4? NxdT!1.NRb6? Nxe6! 1.8d6! (threat2.Ng6 mate) Nxe6/Nxd7Rh82.NRd4/NRb6lQxgT mate. Reci-procal error: loss of guard of BKflight square e7. I think that forthis reciprocal theme such amechanism of B-pin for the twothematic mates would be imposs-ible with classic pieces. [M.S.]

VARIANT CIIESS - 7

N5. E. Holladay. 1.NRgxe4 andseven mates. Four unpins of thee4 battery Nightrider, two of itsmates made accurate by Whiteline closings by Black's moves.Pin-unpin restoration: the give-and-take key (h7lh6) pins theWhite Nightrider which is laterunpinned and pins the BlackQueen which is later unpinned.The first unpin of the BQ(1...Qxg2) forces the double-check mate, and the second one(1...Kf5) prevents NRh4 mate.The mates following 1...d4 andl-...dxe4 are pure mirror pinmates,and the mate after 1...Kh7 is athird pure mate. Two other matesare mirrors. Flaw by conventionalstandards: unprovided check(1...Pxd3f). [E.H.]N6. A. Mochalkin. (a) L.Rxf2(threat 2.Rxf4 mate) Rd5A{Rd52.Qe2lQc2 (set Re2lQbl) mate.(b) 1.Qxf2 (threat 2.Qxt4)Rd5/NRd5 2.Re2lQd4 (set Qe2lQc2) mate.N7. Z. Hernitz. 1.NRg2 Ra6/ReL2.NRe-c1/c6 (set NRa) mate.(version B. L.NRh2 etc.)N8. Z. Hemitz. (a) L.NRa3?(Rh7/Rb2 2.NRc4A{Rc7) Rb5!1.NRf3! Rh7/Rb2 2.NRd2/ NRg5mate (b) L.NRg2? (Rh7/ Rb22.NRc4/NRe6) Rg7! 1.d6!Rh7/Rb2 2.NRc4AIRc7 mate.N9. D. Miiller. 1.NRh8 (threat

2.NRd6 mate) NRiT/DRi7/CRh6/ZRh6 2.NReZCRc4lDRt3 IZRi3 mate. t.Bi7? al=ZR! 1.8h6?ji=NR! Unfortunately j1=NR doesnot stop DRf3 mate. Unsound.

AWARDlst Prize Nl (how the composerenvisaged such large-scalegeometry is amazing in itself).2nd Prize N3 (elaborate pinning

effects, not exploited by the othercomposers). Hon Mention N2,Commended N4, N5.

page 91

My work on a collection ofNightrider problems, which wasto be the prize, has been delayedby the same factors affectingpublication of this magazine.

Knight's Tour NewsT. W. Marlow (16 xii 1.99L) sentthe following in a Christmas card:

6 s9442512Ls386r4328 5 5837 64tr14544524 3 185L362921 4 5s 463330L9 5248 53 2 23 50 L7 3235L 22 47 563134 49 20ffi7264L1696239274257 8 6340L310

A diagonally magic square on the8x8 torus. The broken diagonalsa2-g8,hl and bL-h7,a8 also sumto 260. Also all rectangles(a1,b4), (c1,d4) etc, and somehorizontal rectangles - (a2d3),(a6,d7) etc.

Milenko Dukid (writing fromOsijek in Croatia but making nomention of the battles going on inthe area according to the newsbulletins) has also been construct-ing some magic squares. This oneis 8x8 with ranks files anddiagonals adding to 260. Eachsuccessive set of four moves is aking-tour of one of the sixteen

2x2 grid blocks.

2527 3436 6 8 63 6L28263335 7 5 626423 21.46 47 tt r0 52 502224 48 45 9 12 49 5L4037 t9 17 58 59 t4 t638 39 18 20 60 57 t5 1343 4232 31 55 53 1 341,443029 54 56 4 2

Of course a magic square that is acomplete King tour is possible.Some were given in Chessics 26.


12/16

page 92

Solutions to

In the Wolf Chess +3 by Bartel &Sieber p.59. Pg5 white (misprint).55. M.Olausson.

This is still not correct, pawn 94should be white (as it was in VC4).Please solve again in this issue.57. M.Olausson. Correction p.71:still cooked: 1.Kh1(Bf1) Nf3 2.e2Rg2(g7)$ [A.E.]82, E.Holladay (USA). (.) 1.8c4NRe2 2.Bg8 Klt6t (b) 1.el=NRNRe2 2.NRh7 Kf7* (c) 1.Kg8NRc6f/NRd5 2.Kh8 Kh6/Kt7+Asymmetry on a skew axis.83. G.P.Jelliss (UK). Intended was1.Be8, but I failed to notice that a4 isguarded by Ga6, which lets inmultiple other solutions.84. V.Nebotov (USSR) & C.Tylor(UK). I regret to say my statement ofthe rules was at fault here. ChrisTylor corrects me as follows: "1.8c8does noX mate BPa6 because ofRxc8. Although this move cannot beplayed, it is still available as anullifying move. A piece is onlymated if it stands mated undernormal rules, but assuming it to bethe only royal piece in its side. " Seealso the notes to #30 opposite.

Key: 1.Qg4! threat 2.Qb4+1...Rc4(.b3) 2.Nb3+ 1...Bc.4(*c3)2.8c3$ 1...Kb4 2.Qf5+ (other BKmoves do not defeat the threat) 1...b52.Qb4(*b5)+. Some fairly close tries:1.Qh4? threat 2.Qb4+ 1...Kb4! or1...Rc4 ! (since dl is not nowguarded, BB is not mated) 1.Kc4?threat 2.Kb4t 1...Kb4? 2.Kb5+ 1...b5!(giving a flight) or 1...Rf4 etc! (since

2.Kb4?? would now leave the WKmated as well - illegal) 1.Qe8? threat2.Qa8(*u6)t 1...Rc7! or Rc8!.Of the solvers only Ian Richardsonreally understood this. A.W.I. wrote:"[ found the "rules" given in VCzrather vague particularly thereference to a capture as possiblenullifying move. It appears from thespecimen game that an attacked unitis allowed to capture to escape thethreat, but that the attacking unit maynot be captured by another unit (i.r.other than its target) - except in thecase of an attacked Kng, when itseems checkmate must be normal."

VARIANT CHESS 7

Original Problems

85. Erich Bartel (Germany). 1.Kc4e8=nZ 2.nNRe6 fe8=nNR(nZe1)tttl.nNRa3 f8=nZ 2.nRc3 ef8=nNR

(nzfl)tt*. Chameleon echo [E.8.]"Pawn-Pair Theme" one of myfavourites [G.P.J.] Try: 1.nNRg4f8=nZ 2.nRc3 ef8=nNR(nZf1)tt isstopped since 1.nNg4 is selfcheck!86. Erich Bartel (Germany). 1,...Ne2t 2.Ke4(Nb1) Nd2t 3.Ke3?(I-e8!) 1.Ke3(Le8) Kfst 2.Kf3(Lf8)La8+ In the set play the BK perishesin hand to hand fighting, in thesolution he is gunned down fromafar! [A.E.] Rather good (manymates to choose from) [S.P.]87. G.Sphicas & S.Pantazis.Misprinted. Pc3 should be white.Please solve again with this issue.88. Erich Bartel (Germany). Pc3should obviously be white. (A.E. saysI should have explained that BKcannot capture WGe5 since it isreborn on el with check.) l.al=Gi2.Gib5(Pb7) b8=G* (Kxe5? Ge1!malefique) 1.a1=G 2.Gc3(Pc7) c8=Ag1.a1=d 2.Ads(Pd7) d8=NR+1.a1=NR 2.NRg a(P97) g8=Gif .Delightful cyclic fairy AUW.[A.W.I.] Only fairy piece AUW by aIine trick linely used! [M.O.] Quitean achievement [A.E.] Cycle ofpromotions using four different whitepawns [S.P.]89. I.Richardson. 1.Rxc5 3.Rg85.Kxd6 9.Kf8 14.d1=B 16.8e8 fore7+ Ingenious! [A.E.] The K with thehand on the trigger (rather than theone facing the barrel of the gun) endsup being shot. [S.P.] Erich Bartel

also provides a self-mate solution:L.Rxc5 3.Kxf6 4.Kxe6 5.Kxd6 9.Kh814.d1=Q 16.Qg8 for e7t and Q*g7t90. I.Richardson. Duals (u) L.Ge7Ke4 2.Gt7 or Gd7 Ke5 3.f3 or d3Ke6 4.Gd6lcf6t Ke5 5.Gd5+/cf5+(b) 1.Cd6 Ke6 2.Cc5 Ke5 or e7 3.d1Ke6 or e8 4.Cc6 Ke7 5.d5 Ke86.Cd7t Ke7 7.d6+ Cooks 1.Cf6f Ke6(if Ke4 z.Ctslds| Ke5 3.t4ld4+)2.Cg6 Ke5/Ke7 3.f3 or d3 Ke6 orKe8 4.f4 Ke7 5.f5 Ke8 6.Cfry Ke77.f6* with many variations (e.9"2..,Ke7 3.t4 Ke6 or Ke8 1.Ke2 orCannon f2 etc) [S.P.]91. H.Ebert. (u) 1.Rc6 Kd4 2,Rc2


Variant Chess 6

Ke3A(d5 3.Rc1lRdzt (b) 1.Rc6 Kd42.Kf4 Kd5 3.8b4 Kd4 4.Rd6+92. E.Holladay. (u) 1 .Bf4 Kd8 2.Re3

Kc8 3.Rd3= (b) 1.8b6 Kb8 2.Rb3Kc8 3.Ba5= But also 2...Ka83.RgutZle3ld4lc5 [E.B.] (a) has -iveand (b) +ive asymmetry [S.P.]93. E.Holladay. 1.Nd7 Kd8 2.Kd6Kc8/Ke8 3.8 a6f /Bh5 f Kd84.Nf6/Nc6= Try: 1.Nf7 Kf8 2.Kt6Ke8 3.Bb5f Kf8 4.Nh6 (Kg8!). If notanticipated, Edgar has a find! [E.8.]94. M.Olausson. Black 1.b1-=Rdc8=Q 2.Rb6 Qgl= White 1.d8=Nbal=B 2.Ne6 Bxe6=. A fine AUW,but Pg2 is a pity [E.B.] A lo[ of thistype of problem published recently inProblem Kiste including the economyrecord 7 units for these promotions:C. Poisson 2573 PK72 Dec'90 WKhlPhs 97 Rr{h7 Rg2 PtZ 93 [S.P.]95. F.M.Mihalek (USA). 1.a1=NBb1 2.Nc2 Kf3 3.Kf5 f8=N =. Veryneat! [A.E.] This was composed fora USPB tourney for pin-ideal matessome years sgo, but not publishedthen. Critical WB move. [E.Holladay]Nice sol, together with what reallycounts here: the tries (in vain)![M.O.] Best of the stalemateproblems [I.R.] Two N promotionscan be done almost trivially inhelpstalemate: WKhl Qfl Pe7 BKhSQf8 PeZ Duplex HPz,4N promotionsN.Geissler PK70 Aug 90. Which hasnothing to do with this problemwhich is a neat puzzLe to solve. [S.P.]96, P.Wong. Note: O = bouncer(along queen-lines), A = royal alfil(u) 1.Ke4 Qdl 2.Kt3 Qd2 3.KgZ At4

4.Kh1 Qh2= Order would not beunique if Alfilwas not royal [S.P.](b) 1.Kf6 Qd3 2.Kg7 QS6 3.1


13/16

July L991 - March 1992

Ba5-d2 2.Pe3xQf2 Qb4-e1 3.Pd4xQe3 Qb8-b4 4.Pc5xQd4 Pb7-b8=Q5.Pb6xQc5 Pa6xb7 etc. (Note thatone can conclude that for this to be alegal position, Bs begin at d1/8, 9L18

and not at cl/8, h1/8as

Bd8 wouldbe trapped out of h8 when we retract97 to unlock!) However we canequally well unpromote B+N anduncapture 4Q & lB+N in any order:1.fxB+Nel 2.BbIlc2/e4-d3 3.exQf24.B+Na6-e2 5.dxQe3 6.B+Nb8-a67.cxQd4 8.b7-b8 9.bxQc5. Perhapsfix with b2-b3, Bd3*c4? [S.P.]

Solvers' ScoresS. Pantazis 28 (137)A. W. Ingleton ?A (149)I. Richardson 22 (97>A. Ettinger 21 (60)Er. Bartel 18 (98)M. Olausson 16 (68)D. Nixon 8 (81)C. M. B. Tylor 8 (8)

Solving Rules. Alexander Ettingerasks for the points system forsolutions to be repeated. (VCz p22).The rules are as simple as possible:one point for each "solution" (ordistinct line of play). hr the case of acooked problem finding the cook issufficient to score the full point -there is no extra point for guessingthe composer's intention.

Cooks/Comments/CorrectionsVCl: #11. Additional cook withduals in 7: l.Kd4 2.be5 5.Kfl7.BDRe1{ [A.Ettinger] #15. The 3rd"cook" is wrong - NR prevents3.Ka4! [A.E.] #16. has very simplecook in 4: l.b4t c5 2.Nfxd2 Nf53.gxf5 and 4.Nb3* or 4.Nc4{ [A.8.]YCZ: #30. Chris Tylor wrote (20 viii90): "I have noted the comments ofStephanos Pantazis on All-MateChess in VC3. I don't quite agree thatmy 'mate in 1' problem is really amate in 0; imagine the play as endingbefore the mated king is removed (ashappens in normal chess). However,he may have a point in criticising therule allowing one to make a movethat mates one's own king. I had inmind a game situation where the factof the mate may not be realised untilsome time after the move is made,possibly after the other pieces have

VARIANT CHESS 7

been mated first, and the playersmight be unable to reconstruct theposition before the move. But I hadnot thought of problems involvinghelp-play or with the possibility ofstalemate, which could be messed upby the rule. So I think that it wouldbe better to rule that a move matingone's own king is after all illegal - atleast as far as problems areconcerned. Of course, such a movewould still be legal if another piece isalso mated whose removal wouldstop the mate - or if the enemy kingis also mated! I add examples of bothcases:

A. All Mate Chess.Black to play, can play Rb5(.b4)

with the BR on d4, Black to movewould be forced, under present rules,

to move the R and so mate himself!B. All-Mate Chess.White can play Ke5

and elect to declare the BK matedbefore looking at the WK.

page 93

played (as of Phil Cohen's 1987statistics). Nearly as popular (andprobably a better game, due to theincreased mobility of the Pawns) isthe combination Berolina Grid. Gridhas also been combined on occasionwith U-Chess and Scottish Chess.Another variant is Doug Grant's DGChess (DG also stands for DisplacedGrid) - he shifts the normal grid onesquare diagonally, leavinga1-,a8,h1,h8 as isolated squares - thisincreases overall mobility a bit.Erich Bartel (18 vii 91): Your +2Grid Chess (VC5 p.59) correctedVC6 p.74 (Nf6+fa) now correct(computer tested! by a friend).

Mechanical Puzzlesf)r. Christoph Bandelow sent acatalogue of Rubik-cube typepuzzles, and books on the subject,Magic Cubes 1991, available fromhim at HaarhoLzer Strasse 13, D-4630, Bochum-Stiepel L, Germany.The prices range from 10 to 40 DM(the most expensive a 5x5x5 !).

5x5 ShogiDavid Wurman (whose book on

Chinese and Korean Chess isreviewed on the next page) also sentan article (from Schach Magazin 64)on a 5x5 version of Shogi.

The oorrr** o"rruon lu, Lnr, Gold,Silver, Bishop and Rook on the firstrank, with a single Pawn in front ofthe King. Black is similarly arrayed(WKal, BKhs). The same rules applyas for standard Shogi, but promotiontakes place on the back rank only.

V.Pribylinec (12 iii 91): Sends thefollowing game in Progressive Chesswith the restriction: no unit can movemore than twice in one series: '1,.d4

2.e6 Nf6 3.Nf3 Bg5 h4 4.Ne4 Qxg5Nxf2 Qe3 5.Qd2 Qxe3 KxfZ Nc3 936.Nc6 Bc5 Bxd4 OO f5 Rf7 7.KgZQh6 Nxd4 Nxe6 Ne4 N4-g5 QxhT$

6543

%,%%,%)%,w%w'%. ffi, I% %,fr%, %)'u,%%.%l

Under present rules he could in a selfor help mate problem play Ke5 andelect to declare the WK mated!VC3: #34. Short cooks: (u) 1.- Kc52.Ke5 BcZ 3.8f4 d4+ (b) 1.Kb4 c52.Kb5 Bb3 3.8b4 Bc4$ [A.E.]VC5: soln of #49 p.58. The ??? atthe end should be ... [N.Plaksin]

CorrespondenceGrid Chess

Michael Keller (6 iii 1991): [n yourarticle on Grid Chess, you stated thatyou did not know whether Grid had

ever been played as a variant game.Grid has also been a reasonablypopular game in NOST, with seventournaments and fwo dozen matches

/%t'r%a

,%

%,,fu,. ,12,%

I

I GNw

ABe @ @ A ?\,/a


14/16

page 94

Chinese Chess in Printby Malcolm Horne

Chinesisches SchachlKoreanisches Schach by DavidWurman (Verlag Harri Deutsch 1991) is probablythe most comprehensive account of Chinese (andKorean) Chess yet published in the West. It is 345pages long and covers the history of the game,moves of the pieces, strategies, openings, endings,annotated games, problems, and so on. And a paperboard and cut-out pieces are also included.

Of course it helps if you are German or, like ffie,can get by in German with the help of a dictionary.With no German at all you will be strugglingunless perhaps you like probleffiS, as there are over100 pages of them here (ranging from theelementary to the very complex) and for the mostpart the solutions are self-explanatory.

David Wurman believes that the best way topopularise Chinese Chess in the West is to simplifythe learning task by using algebraic notation andwesternised diagraffiS, and in this I agree with himabsolutely. Indeed it baffles me that so many booksand magazines persist in printing diagrams inChinese and/or continue to use the complexChinese-style notation (..9. 1.C2=5 N8 +7) or some-times full Chinese notation (the same as before butwritten in Chinese characters).

,@'@r@

def

The diagrams in this book (the starting positionis reproduced here considerably reduced) are thebest Western diagrams that I've seen. I might preferthe traditional bishop on the c and g files in place ofthe elephant, but that is a small point. The diagrams

VARIANT CHESS 7 July 1991 March L992

#_

and notation used here mean that the beginner canconcentrate on the actual game and is not asked tosimultaneously struggle with several Chinesecharacters and a convoluted way of writing themoves. Surely that is a big step forward.

The book's appeal is enhanced by the inclusion ofa good number of sketches and photographs(Chinese masters, street players in China, traditionalboards and pieces, etc), though I did find the frontcover design a bloodthirsty real life battle on achessboard rather offputting. It may be true thatchess originated as a war game, but it is somethingI would prefer not to be reminded of so graphically.

Perhaps the section on openings is something ofa missed opportunity. So little has been published onthis in the West, and a book of this size could haveincorporated a really detailed openings referencesection. There are 22 pages here, to be sure, butthere is too much on rare and irregular openings, andtoo little on the regular lines.

Some 50 pages are devoted to a discussion ofKorean chess, a more positionally based variant ofthe Chinese game, and LZ full games (with lightnotes) are included. Although the standard of play inthese games is disappointingly low, David Wurman'saccount of Korean chess is I think unparalleled inthe West for its detail.

Ihope

it willprompt more

players to investigate what may be an excellentchess game, combining the tactical mayhem ofChinese chess with some of the positional subtletiesof our Western game.

David Wurman's book costs DM48 (aboutf 16.50) including postage, and is available fromChina-Schach Spielerkreis, Postfach 6530, D-6300Giessen, Germaily, or from the publishers VerlagHarri Deutsch, Griif Str. 47 -5L, D-6000 Frankfurtam Main 90, Germatry, or via any good English

bookshop (ISBN 3-8 L7L-II66-5).Another new book on Chinese Chess, this time inEnglish, is C. K. L,ai's Checlcrnate in Two: OneHundred Chinese Chess Problems fo, Beginners(self-published 1991). The title of the book revealsit all it is simply a collection of two-moveproblems. Most are direct mates, but some are matesby stalemate (which of course is a loss in ChineseChess, not a draw). The rules of the game are givenfor beginners, but Chinese characters rather thanwestern symbols are used in the computer-generateddiagrams. There is no system of notation; theanswers are given descriptively (".g. "rear pawn


15/16

July 1991 March I99Z

moves left with check"). The book costs f4.99 andis available from C. K. Lai at 12 l,agan House,Sumner Road, l,ondon SE15 5RB. Try this problemtaken from the book (answer on back page):

From the same address you can order anotherbook, translated from the Chinese by C. K. [ni,Wctories AII The Way (self-published 1991). It costsf11.95 and is a collection of 35 historical games, allof them brief (the longest is 28 moves), and all ofthem spectacular. The games are given both in fullChinese notation and then again in Chinese-stylenotation, and light notes are provided. Here's theshortest game from the book: 1.Cbe3 Ng8 2.Nc3Na8 3.Ra2 Bge8 4.Rf2 Afe9 5.Rf7 RftO 6.Rxg7Ch10? (better 6...Ch9) 7.Ng3 Cgt0 8.Rxg8! Cxg89.Ch10 Cxg3 10.Ri3 Cxc3? (too greedy better is10...Nb10 tL.Rxg3 NcS defending the central area)Lt.Cxe7 Nb10 12.Rf3 Nc8 t3.Rxfl}#

And yet another new book translated by C. K. l^ai(self-published 1992) is Fifty Games of GM LiLaiqun, costing f15.75. On the last rating list I sawLi was rated China's No.3 player; the games (allfrom the period 1980-84) are against a variety ofstrong opponents and are given in Chinese-style

notation with comprehensive notes.

Moving on to magazines and newsletters, C. K. I^ai(address as above) has been publishing a small, butexpanding, Chinese Chess Nevvsletter fairly regularlyover recent months. Write to him for details.Although the newsletter is in English, games aregiven in full Chinese notation, and diagrams are inChinese too.

This to some extent fills the vacuum created bythe non-appearance of the UK Chinese ChessAssociation's magazine Chinese Ches,s. The last issue(No.6) came out a year or so ago and there isuncertainty about its future.

From America comes a new English-languagemagazine Xiang A Review published by DavidWoo, Chinese Chess Institute, P.O.Box 5305,Hercules, California 94547-5305 USA. An annualsubscription is $10.00 in USA/Canada, and $15.00(international money order in US currency)elsewhere. The plan is to publish it every twomonths, and five Z}-page issues have already comeout. Diagrams are in Chinese, and Chinese-stylenotation is used. The emphasis is very much onnews and games from China, but reviews, computerchess, and a beginners column, are all mixed in.This excellent double rook sacrifice from a game inthe first issue between Edward Chan (New York)and Frank Eng (San Francisco) caught my eye:

Red (Edward Chan) allowed Black to fork his rookswith L6.Nxg5! Nf6 but then broke throughspectacularly with 17.Ne6!! Nxh5 18.Nf8+ Kf1019.Cf3+ Nf6 20.Rxd10+! Kf9 (20...Axd10?21.Nh9#) 21.Rxh10 at which point Black resigned.

I am still running a Chinese Chess continuous postaltournament (U.K. and abroad) and providing a smallannual newsletter the last isue featured an articleon Korean Chess rules, with a sample postal game.

And the first "Chinese Chess Week" (with maintournament plus subsidiary events) is about to takeplace in Devon, April 25 - May 2, with about eightplayers expected. We hope to repeat this event infuture years, in the south or south-west of England,using cheap self-catering accommodation.

For more details of any of the above please senda stamped self-addressed envelope (or internationalreply coupon) to Malcolm Horne, 10" WindsorSquare, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 lJU.

Agostino Guberti (28 iii 92) writes that the 9thEuropean Championship of Xiang-Qi is to be heldin Milan on 11-l2th July 1992.

VARIANT CHESS 7 page 95


16/16

page 96

PUZZLE PAGEAnswers

htzzle 6.1 Horse Box.Shortest game to surround aKnight with 8 pawns of oppositecolour. Single-Series Play. L.c4d5 2.cxd5 e6 3.cxe6 b6! (a tempomay be wasted) 4.d4 b5 5.e4 b46.f4 b3 7.g4 f5 8.gxf5 Ba6 9.axb3Bc4 10.bxc4 Qd5 1t.cxd5 Bd6I2.h4 95 13.hxg5 Nf6 14.gxf6 c515.b4 Nc6 16.bxc5 Ne5 L7.cxd6.Irngth 16r/z units. [G.P.J.]Pazzle 6.2 Fool's MatesKen Whyld wrote; (24 vii 91): Onp.80 of VC6 you refer to "Fool'sMate" and cite Murray's footnotep.832. However, Murray wasmisleading. The text he quotes isfrom a later edition, revised byBarbier, and you can see from theenclosed photocopy that Saulnever used the term "Fool'sMate". He does indeed describe itin chapter Xi, but he gives it no

name, simply saying "butseldome

or never shall you see a goodplayer receive such a Mate."

The text reads (moderntypography): "The diversity ofMates, and whrch are worthy ofpraise--oldisspraise- The' Matewith a Queene, a loving mate. AMate with the Bishop, a gentlemate. The Mate with a Duke, agracious mate. A Mate with theKnight, an honourable mate. TheMate given with a Pawne, adisgracefull mate. A Mate bYdiscovety, the worthiest of all.The Mate given in a corner of thefield, was Alexanders mate. AMate in the Midea of the field, anunfortunate Mate. The Mate givenon the side of the field, a foolishMate. A blinde Mate, a shamefullmate. The Stale, a dishonourable

mate." Thus he does at leastimply that the mate is "foolish".I like the use of "Duke" for rook.

VARIANT CHESS 7

What might a "blinde mate" be?No offers of Fool's Mates in theEnlarged variants so far.Puzzle 6.3 - Two-Ring Circus.(u) Imitative game to leave twoKnights encircled by Pawns: 1.b4b5 2.8b2 Bb7 3.Bd4 Bd5 4.8b6Bb3 5.h4 h5 6.Rh3 Rh6 7.e4 e58.Bc4 Bc5 9.Rd3 Rd6 10.Nh3Nh6 11.Nf4 Nf5 L2.Qg4 Qg5(this delays the first capture aslong as possible) 13.exf5 exf4L4.f6 f3 15.hxg5 hxg4 16.93 96(that completes the King-side)17.bxc5 bxc4 18.cxd6 cxd3t9.axb3 axb6 20 Ra4 Ra5 21.Rc4Rc5 22.b4 b5 23.bxc5 bxc4 24.Nc3 Nc6 25.Ne4 Ne5 26.c3 c6.(b) A non-imitative game can beplayed in one move less: 1.b4 b52.8b2 Bb7 3.8d4 Bd5 4.8b6 Bb35.h4 e5 6.Nf3 Qg5 7.hxg5 e48.Rh4 exf3 9.e4 h5 10.e5 Rh6t1.Rg4 Bc5 l2.Qe2 Rd6 13.Qc4Nf6 14.8d3 hxg4 15.exf6 96L6.g3 bxc4 L7.bxc5 cxd3 L8.cxd6

axb619.axb3 Ra5 20.Ra4 Rc5

2l.Rc4 b5 22.b4 bxc4 23.bxc5Nc6 24.Nc3 Ne5 25.Ne4 c626.c3. (In the final sequenceWhite imitates Black). A count ofthe shortest routes for each pieceto its capture squarO suggests thatwithout the imitative condition apair of moves could be saved, butin fact, due to interferences, onlya single move can be saved.[G. P. Jelliss, original, 23 i 9UPatrick Donovan wrote (11 vii91): with some other simPleexamples of imitative syntheticgames found by him and GrahamLipscoffib, as follows (only theWhite moves are given): (a) Matein 4: 1.d4 2.Qd3 3.Qf5 4.Qxc8t[This was given by Sam tnyd in1866 along with the other line Iquoted.] (b) Mate in 6 withoutpawn move: 1.Nf3 2.Ng5 3.Nxh74.Nxf8 5.Kxf8 6.Rxh8$ or 1.Nf32.Ne5 3.Nxd7 4.Nxf8 5.Kxf8

July L99L - March L992

6.Qxd8t. (c) Mate in 6 movingonly pawns: L.d4 2.c4 3.dxc5 4.c65.c7 6.cxd8=R/Qf (d) Mate in 6by knight: l.e4 2.c4 3.Ne2 4.N1-c3 5.M5 6.Nd6t. (e) Mate in 7by Q/B on h5-e8 diagonal: 1.e42.t4 3.exf5 4.f6 5.fxg7 6.8e27.8h5+. [No doubt many of thesehave been published before.]Pwzle 6.4. With 5 B+NRs wecan guard 63 of the 64 squares,the 64th can then be guarded (oroccupied) by a 6th piece in manyways. Some S-piece solutions are:c3, d5, e5, 93, 96 (d8 unguarded);c3, d5, e5, e6, 93 (d8 unguarded);c3, d3, d5, e5, e7 (e8 unguarded);b4, d5, e5, R, 94 (a4 unguarded).We can also place 6 B+NRs to"dominate" the board, i.e. theyguard all squares except those onwhich they stand: e.g.: c3, c7, d3,d7,92, h6; c3,

"6,d3,d6, e3, e6.

QuestionPruzle 7.1Peter Wong (3 xi 91)Starting from the usual openingposition, with White to play, inDouble-Maximummer Circe, playto reach the initial array again,with Black to play. (29/z moves).

One-Day Variants EventDavid Pritchard has offered tostage an all-day chess variantsevent at his home near Godalmingin Surrey. Probably a Sunday,sometime this summer, with amixture of variants according tochoice. This event will onlY goahead if there's enough support. Ifyou're interested in taking partplease send a stamped self-addressed envelope to MalcolmHorne (address on front cover) assoon as possible, and details willbe sent to you when available.

Chinese ChessSolution to the problem on p.95:1.Nd4 (check by C) Cd2 3.Nc2f.

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